nearZERO

Physical Injury Prevention Prevention A system for targeting workplace physical injury

Workplace injuries are at least a 50 Billion dollar annual problem in Australia annual problem in Australia Work Safe Australia

nearZERO - Injury Prevention and Injury Management processes build a custom management system that lowers the risk of physical injury in a work place. The overall cost to the Employer and any Insurer is tightly managed and contained.

The main aim of the nearZERO approach is simply to enable workers to sustain their employment tasks at maximum physical efficiency. If an injury does occur or develop, then a comprehensive management system is already in place.

processes produce a system that: nearZERO’s processes produce a system that: o o Incorporates existing health, safety and wellbeing programs o o Focuses directly on individual worker’s functional capacity o o Matches ability to the inherent requirements of tasks

In a successful nearZERO system three key roles are well defined, and well performed! Roles to be played: The nearZERO Workplace Manager The nearZERO Project Consultant The nearZERO Technical Advisor

In a system all Jobs: In a nearZERO system all Jobs: 1.Have been assessed for risks to a worker’s body (Physical Demand Assessment – PDA) 2. A Physical Capacity Assessment (PCA) is designed 3.Physical demand is matched to individual functional capacity

Workers will have: o o A unique Risk Profile describing their physical capacity o o Capacity Points assigned according to their test results o o Personal targets to improve their physical profile

Physical Capacity Rating Using the nearZERO points system workers are assigned an overall Physical Capacity Rating for their job: o o Capacity Exceeds Requirement - CER o o Capacity Meets Requirement - CMR o o Capacity Development Required - CDR o o Capacity Intervention Required - CIR o o Capacity But Conditional - CBC

For Effective Management: o o The employer’s information system stores the results o o The personal Capacity Rating is discussed with workers o o Workers get targeted assistance to improve their rating * * Data exists for management reporting of company and individual risk/capacity levels

Targeted Interventions: Three types of capacity improving interventions are delivered: o o Global: identified needs for a whole section of workers o o Sub Group: small groups of workers with common needs o o Individual: the needs are specifically known and unique

Injury Management: Minor injury recovery can often be effectively guided by the nearZERO Technical Advisor and local medical expertise. Major injury recovery may require external rehabilitation expertise in a coordinated return to work plan.

External Rehabilitation: The nearZERO Project Consultant has access to an Expert Rehabilitation Panel drawn from number of disciplines. The Project Consultant may assist the nearZERO Workplace Manager to ensure progress in rehabilitation delivery.

Maintaining the System: Once the system is in place the system’s integrity must be maintained. Management processes are by this time automatically in place.

Management Processes: Four distinct management actions have been installed. 1.Full documentation is in place 2.Policy and Procedure is recognised 3.Register of Action is maintained 4.Regular review processes proceed * * National and International Standards referenced where applicable

Outcomes Who are the winners in this process?

The Employer: Has opportunity for Minimising Physical Injury Building Productive Capacity of their Workforce And saves o o Down time Retraining time Recruitment time o o Management time Premiums (if the system allows)

The worker The worker - Their livelihoods and health are more protected as they know their body’s strengths and limitations. They know how to improve their physical health and how to safely perform their specific work tasks with optimum physical efficiency. Any union Any union - The duty of care of their members increases. The facts, and not just conjecture, are “on the table” at any time.

Any Insurer Any Insurer - has very accurate information, including the nearZERO risk/capacity points system and PDAs, giving more information for all aspects of insuring and claims management. Any Medical Provider Any Medical Provider - has their job made easier as they have access to a worker’s Capacity Profile and workplace PDA

In Summary: The Employer has Taken Control to produce cost effective and active management of workers physical performance. Bottom Line: Productivity and Profitability Improved

Cost Benefit * typically 6 to 10 times initial outlay * Dependent on level of internal expertise nearZERO builds on existing internal capacity